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 Australian consumers chose Aldi brands as their favorites in the 2016 Product of the Year Awards, a distinction that often leads to double-digit sales increases. The company took top honors in 12 of 46 award categories, including small goods, snacks to go, pest control and household cleaning. The director of the awards program said it’s certainly about saving money, but “the quality has to be there to make an impact and result in repeat purchases.” A recent survey of Australian shoppers found that 35 percent would buy a new product if it won the Product of the Year award.
"Aldi dominates Product of the Year Awards", Marketing, February 24, 2016
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 Adding Vietnamese fish sauce to foods like chicken broth reduces the amount of sodium chloride by as much as 25 percent without loss of salty flavor, according to a study by Malaysian scientists. A standard ingredient in Asian cuisines, fish sauce adds umami flavor to foods. The researchers found that fish sauce can partially substitute for salt in tomato sauce, coconut curry, etc., to cut sodium without diminishing palatability. The researchers said chefs and food manufacturers could create foods lower in sodium content that would meet the requirements of consumers, healthcare providers, governmental organizations, and consumer advocacy groups without compromising taste.
"Using Fish Sauce as a Substitute for Sodium Chloride in Culinary Sauces and Effects on Sensory Properties. ", Journal of Food Science, February 23, 2016
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 U.S. researchers have determined in an animal study that a nanoparticle combination of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil shows potent anti-cancer activity. The mixture was injected into the artery leading to the liver, where it preferentially killed primary liver cancer cells without harming healthy cells. The scientists, who were not sure whether all of the cancer cells were destroyed, nevertheless said that the technique may someday provide a therapy for improving the chances of cancer survival. Further preclinical research is needed, they said.
"Hepatic Arterial Infusion of Low-Density Lipoprotein Docosahexaenoic Acid Nanoparticles Selectively Disrupts Redox Balance in Hepatoma Cells and Reduces Growth of Orthotopic Liver Tumors in Rats. ", Gastroenterology, February 23, 2016
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 A British designer has come up with a simple way to track the nutritional value of grocery purchases. It’s not an app, but a colorful graphic printed at the bottom of a store receipt that shows nutrient data. Color-coded symbols tell whether levels of sugar, salt, saturated fat, etc., are low, medium, or high. Problem items are printed in red as a warning. Supermarkets would pull the data from databases. Hayden Peek believes supermarkets will like the idea because they have a vested interest in keeping shoppers “alive and loyal for as long as possible."
"This Brilliantly Simple Graphic Turns Your Grocery Receipts Into A Health Tool", Fast Company, February 22, 2016
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|  PepsiCo’s mediocre financial performance last year was due to a lot of factors: a strong dollar, European stagnancy, political turmoil, etc. But Euromonitor says the company has some organic problems it needs to address to boost profit and please shareholders. Carbonated soft drinks have declined for ten years in a row, so there’s little opportunity for growth there, except through acquisitions. The researcher says dairy, and specifically yogurt, present a better opportunity. The failed attempt at acquiring Chobani – “probably too ambitious a target” – should not dissuade PepsiCo from trying again, perhaps with the Filippou Group, owner of Fage Total Greek Yogurt, whose sales rose at 11 percent value CAGR over 2010-2015 globally.... More "PepsiCo’s FY2015 Lacklustre Results Suggest its Snacks Portfolio Could Benefit from a Yoghurt Brand", Blog, Euromonitor International, February 20, 2016
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 Pepsi is about to expand its emoji cans and bottles campaign, which began in Russia, Canada, and Thailand in 2015, to more than a hundred markets this year, including the U.S. There will be 70 global and locally designed “PepsiMojis” printed on cans, bottles, and cups, according to the company. CEO Indra Nooyi told analysts at a recent conference that the emojis – sort of an image-based language – will allow people to “say it with a Pepsi.” The company is supporting the program with digital and traditional advertising, and plans to extend the emojis beyond packaging. It has partnered with a fashion designer to create PepsiMoji-inspired sunglasses.
"Pepsi Preps Global Emoji Can and Bottle Campaign", Advertising Age, February 19, 2016
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|  Indian supermarket chain D-Mart – the third largest in the country – has turned a profit every year for 15 years while larger domestic competitors have struggled, and foreign companies – Walmart, Carrefour, Metro AG – have all lost money consistently. The secret, apparently, is shrewd simplicity. D-Mart doesn’t spend a nickel on the marketing technology that other retailers are so in love with, i.e., data analytics, loyalty programs, e-commerce, social media advertising, etc. It offers customers a limited range of products, so it negotiates favorable prices with suppliers. It sells groceries and cheap household items at prices well below the maximum retail price (MRP) mandated by Indian law. Customers come to buy the lower-margin... More "Giving Shoppers Less Means Big Bucks for Indian Retailer", Bloomberg Business, February 18, 2016
|  Plants have microbiomes – communities of beneficial bacteria that live in and on the organism – just like humans. Overuse of antibiotics has seriously harmed the human microbiome, causing numerous health issues. A similar problem – pesticides, herbicides, fungicides – has afflicted the plant microbiome. But a U.S. start-up company that just received $56 million in venture funding wants to re-introduce beneficial microbes to the plant world and help farmers and food producers feed the world’s ever-growing population sustainably. Indigo is using microbial seed coatings to produce healthier, more robust and more productive types of cotton, wheat, soy, and corn plants. Those four plants alone represent a $600 billion business right now... More "This Startup Wants to Use Bacteria to Revolutionize How Our Food Is Produced", Fortune, February 18, 2016
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 Now that McDonald’s has successfully introduced the all-day breakfast, it has begun experimenting with a few menu changes. Most recently it has been testing a portable chicken and pancake sandwich. The Chicken McGriddle blends a fried chicken patty between two pancake buns soaked in maple-flavored syrup. A franchise owner in central Ohio who came up with the idea has decided to step beyond market testing the sweet-and-savory sandwich and add it to the menu. Expansion to other areas of the country depends on customer surveys, the franchise owner said.
"The McDonald's Chicken-and-Pancake Sandwich Is Real", Fortune, February 18, 2016
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 Unilever International has elevated Aseem Puri to chief marketing officer from senior director of marketing for fabric cleaning in Asia, where he handles brand innovation, digital marketing, digital content and brand communication. As chief marketing officer he will be responsible for launching and building brands globally across new geographies, channels and customers. The focus will be on digital lead launches, ecommerce exclusive launches and online consumer marketing. His purview will include North America, Western Europe, Middle East, Africa, South Asia, South East Asia, China, Japan, and Korea for home care, personal care, foods and refreshments brands.
"Unilever appoints Aseem Puri to CMO role", Marketing-Interactive.com , February 18, 2016
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 Britons are cutting way back on their sugar intake, and are paying closer attention to other ingredients as well, researcher Kantar Worldpanel says. As part of a trend in the U.K. toward healthy food selections, a full 93 percent say cutting back on sugar consumption is a priority. But perceptions of what constitutes “healthy” foods is changing. In fact, sales of healthy private label foods are down 3.3 percent, as consumers shift away from “diet” foods to fresh, “free-from,” less processed more natural, or functional foods. Kantar advises retailers to “revisit and relaunch and reposition their healthy ranges.”
"Sugar now the UK’s number one ‘nutrient concern’", Report, Kantar UK, February 17, 2016
|  Yum Brands’ Kentucky Fried Chicken has turned the corner sales wise – six straight quarters of revenue increases – thanks to a savvy ad campaign and rededication to Colonel Sanders’s food standards. The moves seem to appeal to Millennials, a major accomplishment considering that 60 percent of Millennials have never eaten at KFC and the generation as a whole distrusts big company advertising. But thanks to a “re-Colonelization” of its flavor and preparation standards, and new ads featuring Norm Macdonald as a gently satirical reincarnation of the Colonel, Millennials are taking notice. The company is also adapting its chicken-on-the-bone menu to adjust to modern trends: 70 percent of the market is strips, nuggets and sandwiches... More "KFC executive says chain going through 're-Colonelization'", Associated Press, February 17, 2016
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|  Pennsylvania company Castle Cheese Inc. is being investigated by the FDA for adulterating its grated Parmesan cheese with cheap fillers such as wood pulp prior to distribution to grocery chains. According to the agency, some grated Parmesan suppliers have been mislabeling their products by not providing accurate data on the amount of anti-clumping cellulose being used, or by not mentioning that they contain less expensive cheddar cheese instead of Romano. A safe level of cellulose in grated Parmesan is two to four percent. Tests sponsored by Bloomberg found levels as high as 8.8 percent at one grocery chain, and 7.8 percent at Walmart. Kraft Grated Parmesan came in at 3.8 percent cellulose. Castle Cheese President Michelle Myrter... More "The Parmesan cheese you sprinkle on your penne could be wood", Bloomberg, February 16, 2016
|  “Confused and frustrated” devotees of Subway’s submarine sandwiches recently lit up social media to protest the end of the chain’s nine-year-old $5 footlong sub promotion. The announcement of a 20 percent price hike, according to Mintel, may have estranged a huge segment of regular sandwich buyers. Nearly 60 percent of Americans patronize fast sandwich shops, and 40 percent look for value deals. (McDonald’s replaced its dollar menu with “McPick 2” last November). Mintel says Subway’s “slightly tone-deaf” announcement turned off a lot of customers who were told the $6 price was actually “a brand new deal.” Mintel says Subway relied on the promotion far too long, failing to diversify its deals by offering more premium sandwiches or a... More "Subway Under Fire After Ending $5 Footlong Promotion", Blog, Mintel, February 16, 2016
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|  Whole Foods Market is tightening the reins on its local and regional managers to reduce costs and ward off intense competition from Kroger and Costco, which have advanced successfully into the organic and natural foods segment, often charging lower prices. From the beginning, Whole Foods has tried to operate with a local slant, giving managers leeway in the choice of specialty offerings. But the streamlining initiative – which could also include discounting – will mean shifting more responsibility for buying packaged foods, detergents and other nonperishable items to its Texas headquarters, and relying more on software to simplify scheduling staff and replenishing shelves. The move may damage its customer-friendly reputation and... More "Whole Foods Works to Reduce Costs and Boost Clout With Suppliers", The Wall Street Journal, February 14, 2016
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